Benitez expects Gerrard to be fit for Chelsea

Rafa Benitez expects Steven Gerrard to be available for Liverpool's UEFA Champions League clash with Chelsea on Wednesday night after the player came through a training session.

Gerrard was replaced in injury-time during the Reds' last-gasp win over Fulham in the Premier League on Saturday.

The midfielder was suffering from a tight groin and his late substitution placed a question mark over his availability for the quarter-final. However, Reds boss Benitez is optimistic that the injury will not be serious enough to keep his captain out of Chelsea's vist to Anfield.

"Steven had some problems, but I think he will be okay for Wednesday," said Benitez. "He was a little bit tired and he felt something a bit tight. We will see."

Benitez has also played down speculation that he is lining up Palermo youngster Simon Kjaer as a possible replacement for Daniel Agger.

Rumours claim that Kjaer is on the Reds' radar, but Benitez has rejected rumours of a possible £11m bid, which would trigger an exit clause in the 20-year-old's Palermo contract.

"I can only say that Simon Kjaer is not on our agenda at the moment," the former Valencia boss told Stadionews24. "I can say that if Daniel Agger were to leave, we are not planning to bring him as a replacement."

Meanwhile, Kjaer's agent, Mikkel Bekk, insists he has not received contact from Juventus regarding his client.

He said: "Juventus? I don't think so. I have read this news. I think that they are only rumours, I haven't received any calls from Juventus."